Monday, October 14, 2013

New Record Number of Inductees as Fellows of ACMImimi

The Admissions Committee of The American College of Medical Informatimusicology is pleased to announce the Fall 2013 ACMImimi Fellow inductees. The record number seventeen new Fellows largely were introduced to ACMImimi at the Cerner Physician's Community Meeting on October 5th, 2013 in Kansas City, MO where Dr. Ross D. Martin, President and Founder of The College, presented and performed as the opening keynote speaker.  Congratulations to these new Fellows, deserving all.

Those wishing to be considered for admission into The College as Fellows should submit an application to the Admissions Committee, which will review each application carefully and make a determination of worthiness based upon merit. The College now boasts 89 Fellows.  Who will be number 100?


Rick Turner, MD, MBA, FACMImimi (October 6th, 2013)
  • Member of the world's largest ACMImimi Choir at the Cerner Physician's Community Meeting in Kansas City, MO on October 5th, 2013
Julia L. Skapik, MD, MPH, FACMImimi (October 6th, 2013)
  • Member of the world's largest ACMImimi Choir at the Cerner Physician's Community Meeting in Kansas City, MO on October 5th, 2013
Jeffrey Wall, MD, FACOG, FACMImimi (October 6th, 2013)
  • Member of the world's largest ACMImimi Choir at the Cerner Physician's Community Meeting in Kansas City, MO on October 5th, 2013
  • Self-taught in three different types of uillean pipes -- gaita, Gallegos, crone use du centre - representing Ireland, Spain and France, but NOT (emphatically, NOT!) those loud, noisy Scottish things that men in skirts like to parade around playing
  • Runs websites for the aforementioned pipes 
Tom Fowler, FACMImimi (October 6th, 2013)
  • Member of the world's largest ACMImimi Choir at the Cerner Physician's Community Meeting in Kansas City, MO on October 5th, 2013
  • Sang karaoke at Go-Lives while working for Epic
Brian Lancaster, FACMImimi (October 6th, 2013)
  • Member of the world's largest ACMImimi Choir at the Cerner Physician's Community Meeting in Kansas City, MO on October 5th, 2013
Robert Duvoisin, DO, FACMImimi (October 6th, 2013)
  • Member of the world's largest ACMImimi Choir at the Cerner Physician's Community Meeting in Kansas City, MO on October 5th, 2013
  • Maker of Medical Informatimusicology videos, which he shares on YouTube and Vimeo
Roy Ephraim Schutzengel, MD, MBA, FACMImimi (October 6th, 2013)
  • Member of the world's largest ACMImimi Choir at the Cerner Physician's Community Meeting in Kansas City, MO on October 5th, 2013
  • Was visibly moved by Dr. Martin's performance of "Reflection" at the Cerner Physician's Community Meeting
Laurel Shelmandine, FACMImimi (October 6th, 2013)
  • Member of the world's largest ACMImimi Choir at the Cerner Physician's Community Meeting in Kansas City, MO on October 5th, 2013
  • Paid it forward by giving Dr. Martin a "blessing pin" for his wife after his performance at the Cerner Physician's Community Meeting
Chase C. Pickering, PharmD, MBA, FACMImimi (October 6th, 2013)
  • Member of the world's largest ACMImimi Choir at the Cerner Physician's Community Meeting in Kansas City, MO on October 5th, 2013
  • CDS and CPOE designer and implementer who sees the individual notes of health care and works with them so they align and crescendo into a well-oiled machine
  • Plays his diatonic harmonica in the full chromatic scale as he accompanies health professionals during summer events
  • Donates all proceeds from his musical endeavors to health sciences
Karen Ardis, MD, FAAFP, MA, FACMImimi (October 6th, 2013)
  • Member of the world's largest ACMImimi Choir at the Cerner Physician's Community Meeting in Kansas City, MO on October 5th, 2013
  • Bearer of children who have performed at Carnegie Hall and the Vienna Opera House
  • Has declared in her will that ABBA music be played at her funeral 
Bimal R. Desai, MD, MBI, FAAP, FACMImimi (October 6th, 2013)
  • Winner of the ACMImimi "Most Well Documented Fellowship Applciation" Award 
  • 1993: Founding member of Emory University's male a capella ensemble "No Strings Attached".
  • 1995: Percussionist, backup vocals for Scottish folk/jazz band "Java Jive" at the University of St. Andrews.
  • 1996: Member of the St. Louis Symphony Chorus
  • 1998: Lead singer for Med School heavy metal cover band "Kuru" at Washington University
  • 1999: Member of the St. Louis Chamber Choir
  • 2002: Percussion and vocals for Pediatric Residency folk trio "Hand Foot & Mouth"
  • 2003: Member of U. Penn "Ancient Voices"
  • 2006: Member of the professional chamber choir "Voces Novae et Antiquae"
  • 2011: Founding member of "Chestnut Street Singers"
  • Multi-ethnic percussionist (Indian tabla, Latin snare cajon, west African djembe, middle eastern dunbek)
  • Taught himself the vocal technique known as "harmonic overtone singing", aka "throat singing", where the singer produces 2 pitches at the same time by amplifying certain harmonics. The Chestnut Street Singers included 2 pieces in recent programs that require the technique.  These 2 recordings demonstrates the technique:
Lawrence R. Holzman, MBA, JD, FACMImimi (October 6th, 2013)
  • Serves as pro bono General Legal Council for The College
  • Uniquely qualified to serve as General Counsel based upon his credentials as:
    • A highly trained legal professional
    • A singer / songwriter and regularly performing musician
    • A stalwart participant in health care issues since birth (which he admits was a relatively passive role, but which transcended into a professional endeavor)
  • Focuses his research on the health effects of playing the B string on acoustic steel stringed guitars made by Taylor generally (presently working on the 100 series funding and expecting to research the other Taylor lines to continue through the 800 series in the future)
  • I also have a done a small bit or research testing the effects of properly dosed songs about marijuana as a placebo in place of actual marijuana.   A link to one of the the experiments on this project is attached below (entitled "Ganja Babe")
  • I conduct  my research with the able assistance of my colleagues at the "Dart Club" and at "The Dont Wannabees aka DWB" with the assistance of research labs the "Potomac Grill", "El Nopalito", Clydes-Chevy Chase, "Branded 72", "Outta the Way Cafe", "Dickies BBQ Germantown; "The Shanty" in Ellicott City; "Bennigins" in Clarksville and other comparable research facilities.
  • Member of the world's largest ACMImimi Choir at the Cerner Physician's Community Meeting in Kansas City, MO on October 5th, 2013
    John V. Phalen, FACMImimi (October 6th, 2013)
    • CEO and Founder of Zweena and zweenahealth.com
    • Member of Princeton Pro Musica for 23 years (and counting), ex board chair (x2)
    • Avid choral singer
    Craig H. Lipset, FACMImimi (October 6th, 2013)
    • Applying his BA in music from Brandeis University by working at Pfizer on applying HIT and other digital platforms to the challenges of clinical development
    • Implementing many of Dr. Martin's wild and crazy informatics ideas with musical style
    Doug Dickey, MD, FACMImimi (October 6th, 2013)
    • Member of the world's largest ACMImimi Choir at the Cerner Physician's Community Meeting in Kansas City, MO on October 5th, 2013
    • CMO for Physician Strategy at Cerner sponsoring and generally cheerleeding Dr. Martin presenting at the #CPC2013 conference
    • Big-time singer
    Michael Ash, MD, RPh, FACMImimi (October 6th, 2013)
    • Member of the world's largest ACMImimi Choir at the Cerner Physician's Community Meeting in Kansas City, MO on October 5th, 2013
    • VP, CMO at Cerner sponsoring the selection of Dr. Martin presenting at the #CPC2013 conference
    • Actively tweeting and spreading the ACMImimi message
    • Contributor to the arts by spreading the word
    Wendy Bongers, MD, FACMImimi (October 6th, 2013)
    • Member of the world's largest ACMImimi Choir at the Cerner Physician's Community Meeting in Kansas City, MO on October 5th, 2013

    Tuesday, July 2, 2013

    Arts Advocacy for Patients by Vera Rulon MS, RHIT, FAHIMA, FACMImimi

    One of my favorite topics is the convergence of art, science and healthcare. I was inspired to draw this picture as I thought about three people who advocate for patients through the arts.
    What do Regina Holliday, Dave deBronkart, and Dr. Ross Martin have in common? They each know that access to our personal health information is paramount to empower all of us to improve our personal health care. And they each express this through the arts.
    Who doesn’t know Dave deBronkart, AKA ePatient Dave? Dave told his story of finding a treatment that saved his life by researching it himself at a TedX talk. He led the audience in chanting “Let Patients Help”.  Dave stated that “you are the most underused resource in healthcare.” It was his personal experience that helped him understand the importance of empowering the patient. Access to information allows us, ePatients, to be “Equipped, Engaged, Empowered, Enabled” (coined by Tom Ferguson, MD).
    Regina Holliday, another familiar name, was empowered to advocate on behalf of patients everywhere after her husband’s death. The story of her husband’s suffering due to a poorly managed personal health information system is heartbreaking. She decided to express herself through painting. Holliday painted a mural in Washington DC called 73 Cents in reference to how much she was charged per page for access to his medical records. Through her project the Walking Gallery of Healthcare, Holliday engages people to wear her art, and contribute their own art, in order to tell the healthcare story, to put a face on patients all over the world. Regina painted my jacket earlier this year titled “Completing the Masterpiece” about my mother’s last days. In the picture, that’s me wearing my Walking Gallery jacket.
    Which brings us to Dr. Ross Martin, who founded The American College of Medical Informatimusicology (ACMImimi). Ross delivers the healthcare message through music. You can hear The Meaningful Yoose Rap here on this site. You can also join in and become a member of the College. In collaboration with ePatient Dave and others, the College produced Gimme My DaM Data. DaM stands for ‘data about me’.
    Ross’s music takes the idea of leveraging the arts to improve healthcare in a unique and creative way. Regina’s paintings resonate through visualizing and personalizing individual experiences. ePatient Dave’s talks and writings urge us to take charge of our healthcare. Self expression helps get the message out.
    All three also leverage social media. That’s why, in the drawing, I have Regina’s Walking Gallery, Ross’s ACMImimi, and ePatient Dave on a laptop. The rest of it is my perspective… from where I sat when I drew the picture. You can see parts of my living room including books and the French doors leading into the room, among other things.

    Monday, June 17, 2013

    The Sequester Blues

    ACMImimi Fellow (and coincidentally head of the NIH) Dr. Francis Collins provides his musical message on the impact of sequestration on NIH-funded research and innovation.  Dr. Collins is quickly on his way to earning a "Distinguished Fellow" designation!


    Thursday, May 30, 2013

    ACMImimi Inducts Seven New Fellows

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    Washington, DC
    30 May 2013

    The ACMImimi Admissions Committee announced today the names of eight new inductees as Fellows of The College.  Their names and areas of eminence are presented herein.  In addition, The College recognizes two new Members -- Gowri Shetty and J. Shore -- and wishes them well on their quest to find their own Medical Informatimusicological eminence through hyper-specialization in and contributions to the art and science of the field.


    Martha B. Adams, MD, MA, FACP, FACMImimi (May 30th, 2013)
    • Our first informatimusicologist who hyper-specializes in the hammered dulcimer, playing a custom-built ConcertMaster, 4-octave plus, by Jerry Read Smith from Black Mountain, NC, finished in 2008
    • Co-hosts with her husband an annual mountain weekend retreat for fellow performers and dulcimer enthusiasts, which will surely feature informatimusicology in future retreats

    Sharon Wentz, RN, FACMImimi (May 30th, 2013)
    • Promoted the use of Direct messaging for health information exchange with a "60 Beats per Minute" video, which included a smokin' cool soundtrack

    Gia Sison, MD, FACMImimi (May 30th, 2013)

    • Frequent blogger and Twitter maven on all things medical and musical
    • Chair of the ACMImimi Admissions Committee (on temporary sabbatical as she undergoes chemotherapy for breast cancer)
    • President and Founder of the first international chapter of ACMImimi in The Philippines

    PF Anderson, FACMImimi (May 30th, 2013)

    Diana Driscoll, OD, LEEP AP, FACMImimi (May 30th, 2013)

    • Incorporates music and humor when delivering info and research on numerous "invisible illnesses" to patients via videos on www.Prettyill.com
    • Shares her music in nursing homes -- bringing the music from the 40's that they love
    • Gets energized to do her late-night videos on her Prettyill website in musical ways (you know you do this too)
    • Created the definitive ACMImimi theme song application video (which drove us to revise our instructions for singing the theme song)

    Tim Senior, BA (Hons), BM, BCh, MRCGP, FRACGP, DTM&H, DCH, FACMImimi (May 30th, 2013)
    • Wrote for the British Journal of General Practice on "Can Music be used in Medical Education" (November 2012) 
    • Ran a workshop at the GPET Convention in 2009 on the theme "Can Music be Used in Medical Education"
    • Wrote an article in the BJGP called "The influence of the Tricorder," which has nothing to do with medical informatimusicology, but balances out the fact that he is a viola player

    Parvez Dara, MD, FACP, FACMImimi (May 30th, 2013)

    Monday, April 8, 2013

    Reflection - A New ACMImimi Video Project

    Note on this post: The American College of Medical Informatimusicology frequently uses satire and irony in its posts. This post by Dr. Ross D. Martin, our President and Founder, is an exception as we are embarking on the creation of a new video to honor the special relationship between people experiencing serious health issues and their caregivers. The usual shtick will return in future posts. Thank you for understanding.

    I have been somewhat distracted from Informatimusicology as personal circumstances have taken priority. Specifically, the love of my life, my wife Kym, was diagnosed with her third cancer in 30 years -- this time breast cancer. I have taken to blogging about our shared experience on my personal blog.

    I've also been writing music in response to this experience and now am making an appeal to all of you for your help in creating a special video. I've written a new song, "Reflection," that speaks about the cancer journey as seen through the eyes of a caregiver and lover of one experiencing cancer. You can listen to an acoustic demo of the song at ReverbNation or through the widget below. The lyrics are at the end of this post.


    The Reflection Video Project 

    I'm now working with some musician friends -- Bill "Bumblebee" Davis and Travis Erwin -- to create a more polished version of the song, which will be soundtrack for a new video featuring, well, I hope, you. If you have a loved one -- be they a spouse, uncle, mother, friend -- whose chronic illness, cancer journey or other healthcare challenge you'd like to celebrate, please send an email to Reflection@ACMImimi.org:
    • Attach a picture (higher resolution is better - JPEG preferred) 
    • Include a brief quote, message of hope or just an "atta-boy" note that's about twitter length (140-ish characters) and suitable for sharing 
    • Let us know the names of the folks in the picture (first names only if you want) and where you are from (state/country is sufficient if that's all you want to share). 
    • Tell us your story too if you're willing to share it. 
    You can also post your picture/message/story as a comment on this blog post. By sending the picture, names and message, you are giving me permission to use them in the video montage, post them here on ACMImimi.org, and otherwise use them to promote the song and video.

    Contributors to the video will, of course, automatically be eligible to become Fellows of The College (but you still have to fill out an application form). Please know that we at The College are grateful for all that you do for making healthcare work better and loving people with medical needs. We hope this project will inspire us all to be better caregivers and to see the beauty in our loved ones even as they face difficult health challenges. Thank you.

    Reflection 

    Autumn rustles out my window
    Winter's time is near
    Shorter days cast longer shadows
    On the path we walk from here
    It's a detour undesired
    Still it's ours to share
    With a passion so inspired
    I'll go with you anywhere

    Just let me be your mirror
    So you can see
    Even as you're changing
    You are beautiful to me
    Let me be your mirror
    Let me be the one
    Let my eyes reflect your beauty
    As the moon reflects the sun

    It's easy to be frightened
    When the weather rolls in
    The senses are heightened
    And faith wears thin
    All the slings and arrows
    Start to take their toll
    If we focus on the narrow
    We miss out on the whole

    So let me be your mirror
    So you can see
    Even as you're changing
    You are beautiful to me
    Let me be your mirror
    Let me be the one
    Let my eyes reflect your beauty
    As the moon reflects the sun

    I can't promise you a miracle
    Still I'll pray one comes our way
    I'll be right here through it all
    And I'll love you every day
    In every way
    So hear me say

    Please let me be your mirror
    So you can see
    Even as you're changing
    You are beautiful to me
    Let me be your mirror
    Let me be the one
    Let my eyes reflect your beauty
    As the moon reflects the sun

    (c)2013 Ross D. Martin